Rays Fall 3-2 to Nailers Friday Night

Dec 4, 2015

12/04/2015 8:13 PM -

WHEELING, W.V.-The South Carolina Stingrays fired 40 shots on Wheeling goaltender Brian Foster Friday night but came up a goal short. The Stingrays dropped their second straight game, falling 3-2 to Wheeling at the WesBanco Arena despite outshooting the Nailers 40-25 in a back-and-forth games.

A quick start by South Carolina saw the visitors score just 18 seconds into the game. Former Nailer Bobby Shea let a shot go from the right point. Forward David Pacan redirected the shot that was stopped by Foster. However, Stephan Vigier collected the loose puck and converted for his fourth goal of the season to make it 1-0 Stingrays.

The Nailers would even the score five minutes into the first period as Zach Torquato scored his ninth goal of the season. Torquato snapped a quick wrist shot up and over the glove of Stingrays netminder Mark Dekanich off a faceoff win to even the score, 1-1.

The lone tally of the second period would come from Adam Krause at the 13:12 mark to give Wheeling a 2-1 lead. After a failed clear, Krause would collect the puck in the slot and beat Dekanich through the five-hole on the backhand for his sixth goal of the year. Torquato collected his second point of the game with an assist on the goal.

The Nailers would score the eventual game-winning goal on a point shot by Brett Stern. The defenseman scored his fifth goal of the season on a shot that Dekanich never saw. Stern let a shot go from the blue line that slid through the five-hole of Dekanich who was screened. The tally came at 3:39 and made the score 3-1 Wheeling.

The Stingrays wouldn't go away without a fight as former Nailer Colin Mulvey scored at the 7:17 mark to cut the lead to one. The forward's snapshot beat Foster over the catching glove from the right wing. The goal was Mulvey's fourth goal of the season.

South Carolina would be awarded a late power play, but Foster came up with several key saves late to preserve the win in a chippy contest.

The two teams meet again in Wheeling at 7:35 p.m. tomorrow. Fans are invited to catch the game at the Official Watch Party Destination of the Stingrays, King Street Grille-Northwoods. All road games air at King Street Grille-Northwoods and fans 21 and up may enjoy a special offer of $3 Drafts, including Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Shocktop and Landshark during all Stingrays Watch Parties at King Street Grille.

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